The 2012 Memorial Day Speech

The flipside of Joe Biden’s gaffes, of course, is his ability to pour out his soul. On May 25, 2012, the weekend before Memorial Day, the Vice President spoke in Arlington, Va. at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors‘ annual seminar for those mourning the deaths of loved ones in the military. In his touching address, Biden related his own experience of losing his daughter and wife in a car accident just weeks after his election to Senate in 1972. “For the first time in my life, I understood how someone could consciously decide to commit suicide,” Biden told attendees. “Not because they were deranged, not because they were nuts, because they’d been to the top of the mountain, and they just knew in their heart they’d never get there again.” He assured the survivors that although the pain of loss would never disappear completely, it would become manageable. “There will come a day, I promise you, and your parents, as well,” he said, “when the thought of your son or daughter or your husband or wife brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.”

What a great birthday, I will be celebrating my 70th May 27, 2013. You are my awesome VP and I admire you very much. I pray for you and your family nightly and our President and his family. I am very greatful that you are doing so much for our military.

Please celebrate a great day with family and friends and take care of yourself...thank you for your dedication to making America better.

Joe Biden is a national treasure. After the last cretin to occupy the position, it is nice to have someone with a soul, who is comfortable displaying emotion in public, and isn't more machine than man.